Mayor Announces End to Richmond's Flock Safety Contract

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula announced on Saturday that the city will not renew its contract with Flock Safety, a company specializing in surveillance technology and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras. The announcement was made in a video posted to social media on October 10, 2026.

Henrico County's Decision Influences City's Move

Mayor Avula cited Henrico County’s recent choice to cut ties with Flock Safety as a significant factor in Richmond's decision. Earlier in the week, Henrico County ended its contract with the company due to privacy concerns. Avula stated, “Now that Henrico has decided to end their contract with Flock, it clarifies the picture for me because Flock specifically is now less useful as a tool.”

Regional Cooperation and Technology's Effectiveness

The mayor emphasized that the effectiveness of surveillance technology and crime prevention efforts using ALPR cameras depend heavily on regional cooperation. According to Avula, “Crime doesn’t stop and start at the city-county line, and part of what makes this technology a useful crime-solving tool is our ability to work together with our regional partners.”

With neighboring jurisdictions like Henrico County discontinuing their use of Flock Safety technology, Avula indicated that the system's value to Richmond has decreased.

Other Localities Have Suspended Use

Richmond and Henrico County’s actions follow similar decisions made by Goochland and Prince Edward counties, both of which suspended their usage of Flock Safety cameras within the past two months. These moves reflect growing privacy concerns related to surveillance technology and the use of license plate recognition tools.

Public Engagement and Future Discussions

Avula acknowledged that the issue of surveillance and privacy is important to many Richmond residents. He said that his team is working to organize engagement sessions to gather additional public input and address related concerns.

The mayor’s announcement comes almost a month after he originally indicated that the city would reevaluate its relationship with Flock Safety due to rising concerns—a move that generated mixed reactions from the community.

General Assembly to Discuss ALPR Technology

Looking ahead, Avula noted that the Virginia General Assembly is expected to take up issues surrounding ALPR technology during the upcoming session. He said Richmond will continue to follow discussions at the state level and provide opportunities for citizens to offer feedback on the topic.

For those interested in viewing the full announcement by Mayor Avula, the video is available on social media.

Source: wric.com.